World's Most Ignorant Geographical Question

kernow62 says on Oct 31, 2004, 15:35:

there is just one problem There is a bit of the road missing because of the Darien Gap, so no you cannot drive the whole way. You could drive down to Panama and take a ferry to Cartagena.

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villdkatta says on Oct 31, 2004, 16:22:

Thank you that question has been bugging me for ages. :-)

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Miguel says on Oct 31, 2004, 17:43:

Interesante I read that completing the road through the Darien was too dangerous because of the probability that the workers would contract disease. Sorry to not be able to tell you exactly which malady, but I think it was foot and mouth...not to mention that the place is full of bad hombres.

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Peter (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 31, 2004, 20:00:

Gator says on Oct 31, 2004, 20:03:

Above by Gator Trying to master the new format

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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poco says on Oct 31, 2004, 20:26:

Believe a majority think there is a highway Talked to an individual who wanted to ride his bike down south and asked me about Colombia. Surprised him there was not a road. Ferry is required.

Information about the highway.

http://www.american.edu/projects/mandala/TED/PANAMA.HTM

Looks like it is getting close,, maybe only 75 more years. Probably not,, says there is only 54 miles left to complete.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Peter (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 1, 2004, 00:18:

Peter (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 1, 2004, 00:19:

http://poorbuthappy.com/colom http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/2682 has more details. Again, the Darien Gap is dangerous territory.

Poor but snappy

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villdkatta says on Nov 1, 2004, 04:10:

Thank you everyone! I appreciate all of the great information. I'm off to read about the Darien Gap now. It was bugging me because maps indicate they *look* connected; didn't know about the Darien Gap. Interesting!!

Kim

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Mr. Hollywood says on Nov 1, 2004, 07:28:

Darien in a nutshell There are a couple main reasons why that road hasn't been/won't be built soon.

1. Difficult geography, but that's not the main reason. Look anywhere in the world for examples of roads built in difficult terrain

2. Disease: S. America has livestock diseases that don't exist north of the gap. Central America and North America don't want it any easier for these diseases to travel north

3. Military fear. To make a long story short, the US fomented a "revolution" in Panama to seceed from Colombia in the 1920's, I believe, to ease the way for US construction of the Canal. Even though it's probably unrealistic that Colombia has any aims on Panama, Panama still fears Colombia as a superior military power.

4. Huge illicit profits. There's a lot of money to be made in an uncontrolled area like Darien smuggling all kinds of things back and forth. Never underestimate the power those smuggling organizations might have in a small country like Panama.

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Sam Salmon says on Nov 1, 2004, 08:37:

Note-There is no ferry service of any kind between Central and South America.
If one wished to transport a vehicle it's necessary to contract with a private shipping company-very expensive and the risk of theft and vandalism are high.


' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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litost says on Nov 1, 2004, 08:56:

Panama's secession The year of Colombia's castration was actually 1904... 100 years and counting!

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Mr. Hollywood says on Nov 1, 2004, 10:18:

Right The canal was finished in 1914, I think, so of course the succession had to happen before then. Thanks for pointing that out, Litost.

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Peter (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 1, 2004, 12:00:

Sam Salmon says on Nov 1, 2004, 12:39:

There is no scheduled Ferry service of any kind.
There is no mythical 'boat that goes to Ecuador'-that's all hippy bullshit.

» parent | reply

' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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kernow62 says on Nov 1, 2004, 17:40:

The ferry ceased operation in 1997, it was called Crucero Express, from Colon to Cartagena.

http://www.faktaomfartyg.com/crucero_express_1973_bild_1.htm

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Miguel says on Nov 2, 2004, 00:02:

According to the AP... The presidents of Panama and Colombia met in Cartagena yesterday, and completing the road was one of the subjects addressed.

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Peter (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 2, 2004, 00:36:

Chuck says on Nov 2, 2004, 21:30:

The USA fears a gigantic wet bag invasion The Darien Gap is a myth created bt the National Geoghraphic Society in order to increase magazine sales. The road ends in the Panamanian town of Yaviza, about 20 kilometers north of the Panama-Colombian border. On the Colombian side the road ïs about to reach "Lomas Aisladas" south of the gulf of Uraba still 40 kilometers away from the border. This really is not an immpossible task, the difficult part is to cross the Atrato river but this can be temporarily solved with a ferry. And here's my political view. If Colombia wants to be treated decently by the US goverment and corporations, Colombia should build the road including the Panamanian side. Then the only way for the USA to stop the new wave of immigrants from all S.A. is to redistribute wealth in all the continent paying for our products descent prices. The second solution is to hire the Israel contractor and build a new Berlin wall from San Diego to Brownsville, Texas

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ronaldo says on Nov 14, 2004, 13:01:

DRIVING TO COLOMBIA TINTO

I always wanted to drive through Central America to South America.
I have driven starting from Canada through USA, Mexico, Guatamala, Honduras,and Nicaragua. As a matter of fact I did it twice. I left
two cars in Honduras. Honduras is very, very dangerous now especially in Tegucigalpa and Comayagula. I have not been back for about 5 years now. I got hassled by the police in Mexico City the first trip and
paid them off. The second trip I did not go through Mexico City again.
The last trip I got hassled at the border entering Honduras and traded a big roasting oven to the officials wife for quick entry stamp. Why we want to do stuff like this I don't know, would NEVER
do it again. I must have been nuts.

Ronaldo

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Lionheart says on Nov 14, 2004, 17:33:

Special Forces Training Area I read an article a few years back about the jungle around the gap, written by a former British Forces SAS officer. He mainly described the training and cooperation with the US Delta Force during the traing there. But I recall he mentioned in a paragraph why the Pan American Highway couldn't be built there.

1. Diseases - not only is it a natural wall between the two subcontinents, the insects there carry some of world's worst diseases, which would eventually kill anybody working there for a longer time. The smugglers and bandits living there are born there and have a natural immunity, so they would be only workers really able to work there. I assume the smuggling profits are much higher than building a highway.

2. Smugglers and bandits - trying to control them or get rid of them would be equal to intense jungle warfare that would last for years, with uncertain outcome. The world would also consider that as mass murder or even genocide. I heard certain small unique tribes of Indians live there as well.

So I agree with the others, I doubt it will ever be built, no matter what the presidents decide.

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 14, 2004, 17:36:

I'm with Tinto on this one. In order for the road to be built, both countries would have to have incentives to build it. Panama has absolutely no reason to ever build the road. It's like the San Andres Islanders - the sea that separates them from Colombia is what keeps the place relatively peaceful and tranquil - they like it that way. So I expect that we will have colonies on the moon before there is a road across the Darien Gap.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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nomad unpopular says on Nov 14, 2004, 19:44:

typical for an american to forget about Nicaragua in your list of counties among others, you forgot Nicaragua,
a country which your foriegn administration is responible for its destruction and high poverty, i bewilders me that an american citizen dosnt have a clue about countries next door, that have been pillaged, put under embargo, in a word fucked by america,
i guess your a victim of conservitive propaganda, communism is enemy kind of crap for a while now, and that american AID and peace corps are the answer to the worlds problems, as they have certainly brain washed the majority of nicaraguan people, even though a little country like switzerland gives more aid to nicaragua, and we dont even put in big letter and a sign SWISS AID, no. but the U.S. AID is infact the only aid that comes with a fucking badge. and there the ones responsible for fucking nicaragua,
i admit i am getting carried away, but it still amazes me beyond belief that you miss out Nicaragua.

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kernow62 says on Nov 14, 2004, 20:32:

Max who are you ranting about now? Is it the original post? If so the title of the post ought to answer your question. "World's Most Ignorant Geographical Question", the poster is admitting they are not informed and are asking the board a question. So why so many vitrolic posts from you?

You mentioned you tend to use expletives to express yourself in English because it is not your native language. Well.. why not post in your native language if it will help you express yourself without resorting to expletives?

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villdkatta says on Nov 14, 2004, 22:51:

Thanks, Kernow.... I appreciate it. I do fairly well on geography, but wasn't familiar with the Darien Gap. I appreciate all of the great info I received in this thread!

Kim

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